Gunmen kill retired Batangas City police chief

Batangas City—A retired police chief of this city was shot dead while two children were wounded when unidentified suspects ambushed the victims outside a cockpit arena last Saturday afternoon, police said.

Superintendent Manuel Abu, Batangas police chief, identified the victim as retired Superintendent Manuel Calalo, 58, a former police chief of this city and a resident of Barangay Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City.

Wounded were Haidee Villanueva, 11 and her brother Peter, 3, of Barangay Bolbok, Batangas City.

Investigators said Calalo had just come from the cockpit and was about to go to his farm when one of two suspects shot the victim with an M16 rifle along the Diversion Road in Barangay Bolbok at around 2:55 p.m.

Calalo died on board his Mitsubishi Lancer with license plates DPS 702.

The Villanuevas were playing near the area when stray bullets hit them.

The children are now out of danger at a local hospital.

Probers said the suspects fled on board a red car towards Ibaan town.

Probers have yet to determine the motive of the shooting.